Berman clinches presidency

Author: Katie Flagg

Eli Berman '07.5 secured the Student Government Association (SGA) presidency Tuesday, besting candidates Dan Saper '06 and Elizabeth Schaumberg '06 to secure the SGA's top spot and the distinction of being one of the youngest SGA presidents in recent history. Also on Tuesday, JS Woodward '06 was re-elected Student Co-Chair of Community Council (SCCOCC) over first-year candidate Jon Sherr.

According to SGA Director of Membership Alex Meditz '05, 1,559 students voted in the spring elections earlier this week, nearly doubling last year's record-low 38 percent voter turnout. The SGA decided, in conjunction with Dean of Student Affairs Ann Hanson, to refrain from releasing further voting statistics - a deviation from last year's full disclosure.

Following the election, Berman thanked his opponents and encouraged both Saper and Schaumberg to actively participate in SGA next year. "I like and respect both the candidates," he said, "and I will do everything I can to include them in everything that we do next year. I think they can bring so much to the table."

Berman, by far the youngest candidate in this year's SGA presidential election, is finishing his third semester at Middlebury this spring. He brings to the presidency two semesters of experience in the SGA as Wonnacott Commons senator - a role in which he has "already proven himself a strong leader in the Senate," according to current SGA President Andrew Jacobi '05.

"I'm so excited," said Berman Tuesday night following the release of the election results. "I'm overwhelmed and I can't wait to begin."

Moving beyond his initial excitement and disbelief, Berman cited the interpersonal nature of his campaign as the ultimate reason for the success of his candidacy. "I think we just reached out to people," he said of his campaign. "We got my name out there."

Berman - known for his passion and amiability - was a familiar fixture at Proctor Dining Hall for the duration of the campaign. His optimism in campaigning mirrored the hopeful message of his platform. "SGA should actively cause positive change," he told The Middlebury Campus in an interview last week. "Middlebury is full of bright, amazing, intelligent people. This easily translates into power - power to make our campus community a better place."

Berman promised to harness this power if elected - a promise he says he intends to keep. "I see myself making the most of next year and coming through with the change that I promised in my campaign and really magnifying and amplifying student voice," he said. "All my attention and energy is focused towards next year."

While he briefly mentioned specific issues to tackle in the Senate next year, including enhanced wireless Internet access and improved laundry facilities, his campaign was firmly rooted in these broader promises to augment student voice in the SGA and influence College administrators.

When it comes to implementing these changes, however, Berman has yet to produce any concrete plans for the coming months. He explained that he plans to "take it slow" for the next few weeks, devoting the rest of the term and the summer months to organization. He plans to collaborate with administrators, Jacobi, Woodward and current SGA senators and cabinet members in order to prepare for the fall, explaining that "the real implementation starts when I take the job next year," he said.

In fact, as Berman joked, "The first thing that I'm going to do right now is turn to my schoolwork. I haven't worked in about three and a half weeks so that's really what I'm thinking about right now."

Berman's election - and his significantly younger age in comparison to his predecessors - poses the question of continuity in the SGA. Arguably, his early ascension to the SGA presidency could promote great accountability and stability in the organization.

In response to concerns regarding his early rise to the presidency, Berman explained that his sophomore status "doesn't seem to bother" those who "have met [him] and people who know [him."

"I think [my supporters] know that I'm mature enough and ready to take this job," he said.

For now, Berman's reputation with most students - particularly younger students and Febs - is undeniably strong, regardless of his age.

"He seems like he really, really wanted the job and is really dedicated to doing what the students need and what the students asked for," said Priscilla Sinclair '07. Sinclair, for one, seemed unconcerned about Berman's relative youth. "I believe the sophomore class has been very active," she said. "I think it's actually a good thing that he's a sophomore."

"I've seen his fliers around, I've read his e-mails, and I think he's very determined. He could be [a very qualified leader]," said Asheen Faisal '06, another Berman supporter.

Others, however, are more complacent about the president elect.

"I don't really have any particularly strong feelings about [Berman]," said Joe Giacomelli '08. "I was able to look over his platform briefly and it seemed pretty good, but I didn't really go into the issues. I'm not really sure exactly why I voted for him. I sat with him once at dinner and he seemed like a nice guy."

Despite this ambivalence, Berman's enthusiasm paid off.

"Eli's passion clearly rubbed off on the student body over the past two weeks," said Jacobi. "I credit the enthusiasm that he and the other presidential candidates brought to their campaigns as the reason for such high voter turnouts this spring."

Woodward's re-election to the SCCOCC post marks the continuation of a generally successful year as Community Council Co-Chair.

While he cites the liberalization of the alcohol policy as a major accomplishment for Community Council this year, Woodward promised in his campaign to focus on rising concerns regarding the Strategic Planning Initiative, the Carbon Reduction Initiative and the debate over the acquisition of the Monterey Institute of International Studies.

"JS has already had a year to prove himself as SCCOCC," said Jacobi, "and he has done an admirable job. No student works harder than he does to communicate his opinions to administrators on a whole host of issues."

Jacobi continued, "He's practically an administrator himself at this point."